The Perfect Braidout

[svrbrownsuga]

I'm happy you found a great technique Jazzi do u have any pics?

[jazzi]

Hey girl!  I tried to upload a pic 1,000,000 times and it won't let me, so check my album.  I'll be adding some updates soon

[jazzi]

My avatar is my braidout!!! lol

[curlygem]

Nice. That's how my braidouts end up looking when I mix some old, almost empty tubs of different moisture cremes with refined shea butter and some kinda yummy-smelling hair serum, whatever I can find at the moment.

[Afrocurls]

GORGEOUS, Jazzi!

I've been wearing braidouts for the last few months and I'm so pissed I didn't take the time to do this before I cut my hair last year. It would have made things SO MUCH EASIER. Wearing my hair in braidouts has significantly reduced tangles and time spent manipulating my hair. I tried a wash and go the other week...DISASTER. I doubt I will wear those anymore, to be honest. It will only get worse as my hair gets longer and frankly, I have better things to do with my time.  I'm gonna stick with what works and BRAIDOUTS WORK.

 I recently perfected my routine and I figured I'd come here and share:

1)  I used to put my hair in a bunch of small to medium sized braids. No more. I do eight braids maximum.

2) I don't use styling products anymore except for a bit of gel on the edges when I wear my hair back or half pulled up.  Otherwise, I use conditioner exclusively. I don't even use oils anymore (although I always have olive oil and coconut oil on deck just in case LOL).

3) I twist my hair the same way a lot of stylists roller set the hair:   
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http://www.dominicanblowout.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/dominican_blowout_rollers12.jpg

I braid down the center with my braids going back away from my face. This is mostly because my hair has a natural center part and thus, my hair is CONSTANTLY in my face (which is extremely annoying). I've been able to circumvent that by braiding like this. Plus, it helps my hair hang better in the back rather than being split in the middle because I'm reaching around from the sides to braid (thus pulling my hair in opposite directions LMAO).

4) I used to do dry braidouts at night, but I noticed that by day 4, my hair was almost completely straight. Conditioner water in a spritz bottle + a two or three mists per braid = five and six day hair.  If I'm lazy and don't feel like it, I just pineapple it (ponytail on top of my head), put a silk scarf around my edges and call it a night. I can get second and third day hair with pineappling, but I wouldn't try it longer than that. :lol:

5) Sometimes I sit under a hooded dryer to get the drying process started, but you all don't necessarily have to. On my head, if any part of my braid is wet when I undo it, it's gonna do it's own thing. Usually, though, I do it early enough on the weekends that I could probably go without the dryer.

[gmw]

I had all intentions of trying this last night, but the problem I seem to be having these days, is I am tired!!!!!!!!!!! I will see if I can get it done tonight!

As my hair gets longer, the idea of doing at night is a real task. I am just too tired to sit and do my hair. However I am also tired of my current look, so I shall try this braid out tonight!

[peajai]

3) I twist my hair the same way a lot of stylists roller set the hair:   
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http://www.dominicanblowout.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/dominican_blowout_rollers12.jpg

I didn't quite understand this part. Does this mean you roll the braids up on themselves?

[Afrocurls]

I didn't quite understand this part. Does this mean you roll the braids up on themselves?

My bad!

No, I don't roll them up. I braid them like normal, I just part my hair the way that roller set is part to avoid the dreaded center part I have. LOL

[curlygem]

That way makes a person's hair look fuller to me. Every time I part my hair like that for my twist-n-curl, my twistycurls are huge and full.

[peajai]

Guess what ya'll... thanks to all your tips, today I have my first semi-successful braidout! 

I used castor oil and SheaMoisture leave-in, and only detangled in the shower (no combing while braiding, a big mistake I was making before) and braided while still soaking wet. I ended up with about 25 medium sized braids. They were still a little damp when I took them down this morning but the results are better than ever before! 

[peajai]

I pineappled last night and ran a tiny bit of CoCasta Shikakai oil over it this morning and I love it even more today!

Pics:
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http://www.naturallyjunky.com/2010/04/my-first-semi-successful-braidout.html

[pixie]

I liked your tip about rinsing your hair after adding oil.  I might have to use that.  Looks good Peajai!

[gmw]

I finally did this!!! I have been wearing my braid out since Monday morning, and it is holding up good.

I am going to change the technique a bit though. I washed my hair, and put conditioner all through it, sat down in the tub, and braided/plaited my hair with all of the conditioner in my hair. Then I stood up, rinsed the conditioner out, and let it dry. Drying took 2 days. On Monday I took all of my plaits out, separated some of the strands and put olive oil through out myhair. ( The change will be adding oil to my plaits while they are wet with one of those applicator bottles, and letting it dry with the oil for more moisture, and I may rinse with Honey Water too!)

At night I tie my hair up with a scarf, and in the morning I put some more oil in it, sort of stretch it out, un-smoosh it, (no finger combing at all, or my hair will look crazy!) and keep it moving. Day 3 and it is looking really good today!

[curlygem]

I finally got my chunky braids down to 9 braids (that hold by themselves) and 4 horizontal parts! The bottom part has 4 braids, the middle part has three (the braid in the center is the thickest), the last 2 parts are 1 braid each. I secured the top braid to the one under it with an elastic so it wouldn't swing all over my head. I'll do the braidout tomorrow.

[gmw]

I did another braid out this weekend and it turned out really nice. I only had Sunday to get it done and surprisingly it is better than last weeks. I did change how I did it technique wise, and I did not add anything to  my hair, except for a touch of KCCC in each braid. Because my hair is so dense I used more braids that were smaller, rolled the ends, and let it dry the rest of the day and night. I took them out yesterday, and Voila! They are really nice! A lot of body, and very soft hair. Good Stuff!